Brooklyn’s dine-and-dash influencer exhibits no indicators of stopping.
Contemporary off her arraignment on theft of service fees Friday — after she was arrested 5 occasions for non-payment at fashionable Williamsburg eating places — Pei “Lu” Chung was nearly instantly accused of ripping off much more eating places.
The fake influencer was arrested twice Saturday, at Sea Thai and Michelin-star Italian hotspot Misi, NYPD stories present, and given supervised launch.
And on Monday night time, Chung took to Instagram to put up photographs of a full mezze platter, lamb and coconut milk pudding from in style Israeli restaurant 12 Chairs — the place she walked out with out paying her invoice, administration claimed to The Publish.
Hermès earlier than one other alleged spree of eating and dashing. lu.pychung/Instagram
“She left and didn’t pay,” a supply near the restaurant informed The Publish, including that 12 Chairs didn’t name police.
Chung, 34, has been arrested seven occasions since late October, after skipping out on high-tally tabs at eating places like Peter Luger, Francie and Lavender Lake.
Homeowners and cooks informed The Publish how Chung is available in “dressed to the nines,” takes photographs of her meals, then tries to barter with social-media posts or used bank cards which might be inevitably declined.
A supervisor at Peter Luger alleged to The Publish that Chung even tried to supply a sexual favor to cowl her meal, The Publish reported Sunday.
Former mates informed The Publish that, previous to her savory scams, Chung was a daily on town’s glittering social scene — elegantly wearing Prada and Louis Vuitton at classical music galasand nightclubs — however disappeared a few years in the past.
Born in Taiwan, Chung says on her private web site that she studied ballet and classical piano, began enjoying the violin at age 3 and earned a 99 percentile rank on that nation’s nationwide examination. She additionally notes that she was “working a rifle at age 17.”
After incomes a grasp diploma in effective arts on the Nationwide College of Kaohsiung, she appears to have moved to New York round 2019 to attend Pratt College on a “full-ride benefit scholarship,” in response to her LinkedIn profile, finding out Info Expertise Design and Info Know-how.
She was often photographed with Taiwanese socialites round Manhattan in 2021, partying on the DiMenna Middle for Classical Music in Midtown in October 2021 and at Buddakan within the Meatpacking District.
Chung wore a black off-the-shoulder costume to Arte Cafe on the Higher West Aspect and a bra high to Nebula nightclub in Midtown.
A good friend who met Chung in the course of the pandemic informed The Publish they bonded over classical music and that she was lively on the Taiwanese social circuit in NYC.
“She invited me to concert events and museums. We additionally had meals collectively a number of occasions, both alone or with mates,” the younger man stated, asking to stay nameless.
“She handled me earlier than, after I invited her to a live performance. She wasn’t the form of lady that expects guys to pay. After we went out as a bunch, she additionally paid for her portion. I don’t find out about her different precise dates although.
“She was all the time very well mannered, well-mannered, and confirmed sturdy curiosity in artwork and training. She’s a wise lady.”
However issues took a darkish flip, the good friend stated, when Chung all of a sudden began speaking about an “ex boyfriend.”
“She had been appearing a bit unusual, so I reached out to examine in and ask if she was OK or wanted any assist. She began messaging me saying she wasn’t effectively — that her ex had come to New York, was stalking her, and that she was scared. We spoke on the cellphone just a few occasions as a result of it appeared like she wanted somebody to speak to and calm her down,” the good friend stated, including that Chung gave the impression of “a very totally different particular person” than earlier than.
“It felt like there have been two sides of her, and she or he was extraordinarily distressed … totally different particular person, totally different voice, tone, persona, and mind-set. At one level, she was so frightened that she requested if I might keep together with her and fake to be her boyfriend. I informed her that if she really wanted somebody for security, I might go accompany her. However her habits turned more and more uncommon, so I by no means went.”
Then, the good friend stated, Chung disappeared.
One other supply confirmed she “went off the grid the entire sudden” after December 2021.
“Plenty of our mates stopped seeing her. She doesn’t come out anymore,” stated the supply, who requested to withhold his identify.
“We tried to see if she’s OK. We bought involved. She was our good friend. We’re like, ‘Why did you cease popping out?’ She talked about it was one thing about her ex that he was monitoring her down. She was in hiding.”
After that, the supply stated of Chung, “she didn’t reply and she or he was gone. She unfollowed me. All of the folks that I do know who as soon as knew her don’t speak to her.”
In accordance with Chung’s LinkedIn, she briefly labored as a contract UX (person expertise) designer for corporations together with Chase, Comcast and Vanguard. However her final posted job was in March 2023 — and she or he lists herself as “semi retired.”
She started posting influencer-style meals photographs that 12 months — from locations like L’abeille, a French restaurant in Tribeca, and Jean-Georges.
Chung, who lives in a luxurious condominium tower in Williamsburg, additionally tags manufacturers for the garments and equipment she’s carrying: Prada, Dior, Cartier, Burberry. Earlier than her 12 Chairs jaunt, Chung posted a video of herself procuring at Hermès in Williamsburg, the neighborhood she not often appears to go away.
“I don’t understand how she’s affording it. The stuff that she makes use of and buys, she’s flexing it and she or he needs folks to know,” the supply stated.
Each mates stated they have been shocked by information of her dine-and-dash schemes.
However Chung’s additionally seemingly bought a brand new plan up her designer sleeve.
In accordance with a Reddit person who claims to have matched with Chung on the courting app Hinge, she’s able to trade her nightlife data for tips about fairness buying and selling.
“I knew the place to get drinks [to] match your appears to be like,” she allegedly wrote. “In the event you can trade your data about that, I’ll take you to the place.”
Simply remember to deliver your pockets.
